Guthrie Mountain, Burro Fire Burn – 7/23/2017

Entering the Burro Fire burn on the Guthrie Mountain Trail. July 2017.
Entering the Burro Fire burn on the Guthrie Mountain Trail. July 2017.

On the Green Mountain Trail it was hard to tell what I would find – the Green Mountain Trail was untouched by the Burro Fire, but not far from Bear Saddle on the Guthrie Mountain Trail the impact of the Burro Fire became obvious.

Brown trees below and on the slopes of Guthrie Mountain. July 2017.
Brown trees below and on the slopes of Guthrie Mountain. July 2017.

On the ridge out to the short rocky climb before the summit the trees scorched by the fire seemed almost like strange fall colors – but the summit must have burned hotter, here the trees have been transformed into black sticks.

The summit of Guthrie Mountain a few weeks after the Burro Fire. July 2017.
The summit of Guthrie Mountain a few weeks after the Burro Fire. July 2017.

With the trees and brush largely cleared by the fire it is now easy to wander down from the summit for more photos – other areas burned in the Burro Fire attract my attention today – the slopes of Evans mountain and Burro Creek are distinctly brown.

Evans Mountain - the Burro Fire was stopped at Edgar Canyon on the other side of this ridge. July 2017.
Evans Mountain – the Burro Fire was stopped at Edgar Canyon on the other side of this ridge. July 2017.
Looking down from the slopes of Guthrie Mountain on Burro Creek - also burned in the Burro Fire. July 2017.
Looking down from the slopes of Guthrie Mountain on Burro Creek – also burned in the Burro Fire. July 2017.

Guthrie Mountain is still very much worth visiting – I was a bit stunned at first by the new look of the summit, but the burned slopes are already spouting new growth and it will be interesting to see what happens as the area comes back to life.

One thought on “Guthrie Mountain, Burro Fire Burn – 7/23/2017

  1. Very interesting! The pines will have to come back from seed but the oaks will likely resprout from the base. This will be fun to watch change over the years.

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